The Hajdúszoboszló Wine and Gastro Festival lands this fall with three days of plates, pours, and parties. From September 18 to 20, 2026, Szent István Park turns into the city’s open‑air dining room and dance floor, pouring the best from Hungarian wine regions and dishing up a broad spread of street food and regional specialties. Entry is free, which is exactly the point: everyone’s invited.
The festival runs from Friday through Sunday with a full program mixing live bands, dance performances, and a high‑energy DJ party each evening. The aim is simple: a relaxed long weekend where families, friends, and night owls can all find their groove. The main stage anchors the park, and the surrounding alleys fill with stands run by local chefs, artisan producers, and winemakers who show off what their cellars and kitchens do best.
Expect a lineup that roams the country through the glass. Exhibitors bring reds, whites, and bubblies from Hungary’s best‑known terroirs: think full‑bodied Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos), aromatic Irsai Olivér, elegant Furmint, and sun‑ripe Kadarka. Many winemakers pour vertical tastings or limited releases—perfect for geeking out on vintages—while more casual drinkers can opt for varietal flights or a chilled spritzer to sip as the music kicks in. If you’re driving or just taking it easy, alcohol‑free options and craft sodas are part of the offer.
Food‑wise, vendors go wide. You’ll find festival favorites and modern twists on old standards—charcoal‑grilled meats, flame‑kissed flatbreads, stuffed cabbage, slow‑cooked stews, and street‑smart versions of classic csárda recipes. Sweet tooth alert: handmade pastries and layered cakes keep the dessert counters buzzing, and ice cream carts roll in with small‑batch flavors. Coffee pop‑ups and lemonade stands are scattered throughout to keep you moving between sets.
Szent István Park sits in central Hajdúszoboszló (4200), an easy stroll from the spa quarter, which is why the festival has a resort‑town vibe. When you’re ready to step away from the crowds, the city’s famous thermal and wellness scene is steps away. Hungarospa’s pools and therapies are a magnet for spa‑goers, and plenty of stays pair well with a food‑and‑wine weekend.
Where to Stay Nearby
Hajdúszoboszló’s lodging choices cluster around the baths and the park, from classic hotels to quiet guesthouses.
Hotel Barátság sits in the green belt on the hotel promenade and, as the city’s tallest building, offers a hard‑to‑beat panorama. Its wellness complex is built for recovery: medicinal and alternating‑temperature pools, bubbly hot tubs, saunas, an infrared sauna, and a steam room. It’s popular with families, couples, and business travelers who want everything in one place—rooms, spa, and event spaces under the same roof.
Guesthouses and apartment houses fill the surrounding streets. Many are 5 minutes on foot from the main strand, some just 100–200 meters from the entrance. Expect separate‑entry apartments sized for two, four, or five guests; year‑round openings; and quiet residential locations that trade on calm courtyards, free on‑site parking, and shared breakfast kitchens. Newer builds near Kölcsey and Major streets sit practically next door to the baths, with restaurants, markets, and grocery stores within a quick walk. If you want the terminal close, some houses are about 150 meters from the bus station.
There are also pensions in prime spots, including one near the airport, 100 meters from the beach and only 400 meters from the Aquapark and the newer Extreme Slide Park. The Árpád Pool and Hungarospa therapy building are nearby for visitors who want to add medical or wellness treatments to their long weekend.
Eat, Drink, Repeat
Beyond the festival stalls, the city’s restaurants and bars lean into hospitality. Kemencés Csárda champions tradition with a modern touch—think the spirit of old roadside csárdas reimagined for today, with a menu and interior that celebrate Alföld heritage. A romantic, multi‑level dining complex near the baths offers a 150‑seat covered terrace and an 80‑seat upper‑level panorama terrace. The Major Pension & Restaurant keeps things close to the action but calm, a short stroll—2 to 8 minutes depending on the entrance—from the spa.
Mirage Restaurant shows off a fresh renovation, with an exclusive feel, a wall of fruit brandies, and a seasonal menu. Nr. 8 in the spa district serves classic and signature grills, plus a summer‑to‑late‑autumn terrace scene anchored by a nearly 80‑seat pavilion pouring cocktails and warming drinks once the evenings turn crisp. A minute from the Hungarospa entrance, a pancake spot flips both sweet and savory, with lemonades, cocktail coffees, and artisanal ice cream rounding out the list.
After‑Hours Fun
U‑Pub Bar is built for group nights out with friendly prices and a gaming‑hall spirit. It’s the only place in town that stacks an escape room with bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and foosball under one roof. Good for a rainy spell, better for a late‑night challenge after the DJ winds down in the park.
Good to Know
The festival is free to enter. Dates: Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, 2026, in Szent István Park, Hajdúszoboszló. Organizers reserve the right to change the schedule and timing, so check updates before you go. If you’re angling for a room within walking distance, book early—this is the city’s biggest autumn food festival, and it fills the neighborhood fast.
Bring an appetite, pace your tastings, and let the evening DJ sets pull you back toward the stage. Hajdúszoboszló knows how to do baths and wine. This weekend, it does both.
